Art or method of making ornamented or variegated gelatinous sheets to imitate tor



(Nd Model.)

W. V. BRIGHAM ART 0R METHOD OF MAKING ORNAMENTED 0R VARIEGATED GBLATINOUS SHEETS TO IMITATE TORTOIS E SHELL, 670.

No. 247,477. Patented Sept. 27,1881.

z fif'w csses. [76V670Z0'I". g flww. 7 7 K Q I Wm. 26 r 'the art or method of making ornamental or UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC 1 WILLIAM V. BRIGHAM, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GELATINOID COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

ART 0R METHOD OF MAKING ORNAMENTED 0R VARIEGATED GELATINOUS SHEETS T0 lMlTATE TOR- TOISE-SHELL, dc.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,477, dated September 27, 1881.

Application filed April 4, 1881. (No model.)

Improvement in the Art or Method of Making Ornamented or Variegated Gelatinous Sheets to Imitate Tortoise-Shell, &c., of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in variegated gelatinous sheets.

Hitherto sheets of gelatine have been made by flowing a solution of v the same upon glass or other suitable surface, either plain or ornam ented, as in United States Patent No. 233,973, to which reference may be had, which, after becoming sufficiently dry, is detached, thereby producing a sheet of gelatine with a plain surface or with a surface ornamented with anyrequired design.

The drawing shows, in section, a piece of glass, a film of gelatine, and a backing for the gelatine sheet.

It being desirable to produce gelatine sheets in imitation of tortoise-shell, malachite, lapis lazuli, &c., I have devised the following method or process formanufacturing such gelatine sheets:

To produce an imitation of tortoise-shell I take a quantity of fine gelatine, dissolve the same, and color it to a bright lemon tint with a solution of picric acid, and then by the addition of a small qu'antityof the aniline dye known as orange the gelatine solution is brought to any desired shade of amber. Another solution of gelatine is then prepared and colored to a dark brown by any suitable aniline dye. This color may be varied at times with good results by adding to it a small quantity of purple or black dye. A sheet of glass, a, is now placed in a horizontal position and a quantity of the amber-colored gelatine sufficient to make a sheet of gelatine of half the required thickness is poured upon it and permitted to spread over the entire surface of the glass, where it is allowed to stand a few'moments until it commences to coagulate or gelatinize.

The process of coagulatingmay be facilitated in warm weather by the addition to the gelatine of a few grains of chrome-alum in solution just before pouringit upon the glass. The amber-colored gelatine having commenced to coagulate, an equal quantity of the dark-brown gelatine described istaken and sprinkled somewhat irregularly over the-surface of the amber-colored gelatine, when the two colors will begin to unite; but, owing to the process of coagulation having already commenced, this union will be incomplete in some places,while in others it will be entire, which will as a result give every shade of color from amber to dark brown, inclusive, with great variety and beauty of markings, and these markings may be further varied and improved by a dextrous touching, stirring, or commingling of the two gelatine solutions by the finger or other means to thus blend the colors.

To produce an imitation of malachiteI prepare a solution of gelatine colored to a dull white by the addition of a small quantity of oxide of zinc, and then I change the same to a light pea-green by the addition of the aniline color known as malachite-green. The second or final solution of gelatine to be added to the partially-coagulated pea greensolution is prepared and colored to a very dark green by the addition of a sufficient quantity of the above aniline-green. These two green solutions are then used in the same manner as the two making the imitation of tortoise-shell-the light first, the dark green afterward.

To make an imitation of lapis lazuli I take a solution of gelatine prepared and colored to a brilliant white by the addition of sufficient oxide of zinc. A second solution of gelatine is then prepared and colored to a deep blue by the addition of a suitable aniline color or by the color known as prussian-blue. These two solutions are then used in the same manner as the two for making the imitation of tortoise-shell-the white first and the deep blue second.

I also make a fancy-colored sheet of gelatine, which I call party-colored, by first covering the glass or with a thin film of uncolored gelatine, and then sprinkling upon its surface small quantities of gelatine of diflerent and separate. colors--viz., yellow, blue, and red. These colors, blending together irregularly, produce every shade of the rainbow. The glass it, with the gelatine sheetb thereon, when the latter is sufficiently hardened to permit the glass to be moved, is placed upon a shelf in a temperature of about 70 and dried, after which the sheet b is separated from the glass byinserting the blade of a penknife under one corner of the sheet, when, by taking hold of the sheet with the thumb and finger, it may be easily detached.

W'ith respect to the composition of the various solutions, it will be understood that I do not confine myself to the use of gelatine, but may use in addition or substitution any analogous substance, as glue, albumen, dextrine, 83c.

Iam aware that sheets of gelatine have been made in imitation of tortoise-shell by making firstafilm of amber-colored gelatine upon glass and allowing it to dry, and then painting the spots or markings upon it with a suitable coloring-matter, and covering the whole with a coat of varnish. In such process the blending of colors is very slight and entirely upon the surface of the gelatine, and the imitation, therefore, vastly inferior to that produced by my process, wherein the blending of colors is barmonious and extends entirely through the sheet. Thepainted gelatine referred to is also quite brittle, from the fact that its texture is not uniform, and is thickest where the markings are painted, and only one surface-that made in contact with the glass-is smooth, while my sheets, except as to color, are the same as sheets made by one flowing.

Then it is desired to use my colored gelatine sheet for veneers I form for it a backing, e, by laying a sheet of stout paper of suitable size upon the surface of the gelatine 1) before it is put upon the shelf to dry. This backing gradually absorbs, and in turn has evaporated from its surface, the aqueous portion of the gelatine solution. When this process is complete the backing adheres so firmly to the film that it is impossible to separate them without destroying one or both. If additional strengthis desired for the backing c, a piece of stout linen or other suitablecloth, d, may be glued or cemented to the paper and be allowed to become ing variegated gelatinous sheets, which eonsists in flowing a solution of gelatine or analogous substance, suitably colored and prepared, upon glass or other suitable surface, and while in a liquid or semi-liquid state sprinkling on its surface a second solution of gelatine or analogous substance, suitably colored or prepared, which solutions are then commingled or blended more or less, and when sufficiently dry detaching the film so formed from the glass, substantially as described and set forth.

2. The method herein described of produc ing a strengthened gelatinoid sheet, which consists in flowing a solution or solutions of gelatine or analogous substance upon glass or other suitable surface to form a film, and then covering the said film with a backing of paper or cloth, which is permitted to dry thereon, and when sufficiently dry detaching the backed and strengthened gelatine from the glass, substantially as described and set forth.

I I As an article of man ufacture, a variegated gelatinoid sheet, as described, composed of gelatine or its equivalent, of two or more colors, blended together as described.

4. As an article of manufacture, a gelatinoid sheet provided at one side with a backing to give additional strength to the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofIhave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM V. BRIGHAM.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, BERNICE J. NoYEs. 

